Primary Teachers
Nisi Shawl
Nisi Shawl is an award-winning author and editor of speculative fiction and co-founder of Writing the Other Online. Shawl, alongside author Cynthia Ward, developed the original WtO workshop and book, and has been teaching on the subject for almost 30 years.
They’re the author of the middle grade book Speculation and the Nebula Award nominated steampunk novel Everfair. Nisi’s many short stories have been collected in Our Fruiting Bodies, Talk Like A Man, and the Tiptree Award-winning Filter House.
Nisi is the editor of several anthologies, including New Suns 2, Stories for Chip,Strange Matings: Octavia E. Butler, Feminism, Science Fiction, and African American Voices, and the LOCUS Award and World Fantasy Award winning New Suns: Original Speculative Fiction by People of Color.
In addition to their writing, editing, and teaching, Shawl also serves on the boards of Clarion West and the Carl Brandon Society.
K. Tempest Bradford
K. Tempest Bradford is an award-winning teacher, media critic, author, and co-founder of Writing the Other Online. She’s been teaching classes and giving talks on representation, diversity, and inclusion in fiction for over 15 years.
Her debut middle grade novel Ruby Finley vs. the Interstellar Invasion, which features a young Black genius who loves science and bugs, is the winner of the Andre Norton Nebula Award.
Tempest’s fantasy and science fiction short stories have appeared in multiple anthologies and magazines, including New Suns 2 and Strange Horizons. Her media criticism and essays on diversity and representation have been published at NPR, io9, Ebony Magazine, and more.
She’s the recipient of the 2020 LOCUS Special Award for Inclusivity and Representation Education for hr work with Writing the Other and the 2022 Lemonade Award. She’s been nominated for FIYAH Magazine‘s IGNYTE Community, Ember, and Best In Middle Grade Awards.
Piper J. Drake
Piper J. Drake is the author of Wings Once Cursed & Bound, book 1 of Mythwoven – a contemporary fantasy series. She is also the author of the award-winning Triton Experiment series (science fiction romance) and the London Shifters series (paranormal romance) with new upcoming series in cozy paranormal mystery and science fiction romance releasing in late 2023 and early 2024.
Piper is well-known in romantic suspense for her bestselling True Heroes series, of which the fourth book is acknowledged as a RWA Trailblazer as the first own voices Thai American (Southeast Asian) romance in the USA. Piper is also the author of the Safeguard series (romantic suspense) as well as several standalone novels and short stories.
In addition to writing across multiple genres–including fantasy, romance, and science fiction–Piper has taught for Writing the Other since 2019 as well as taught or held workshops for various writing organizations for over 10 years.
Piper has contributed to multiple TTRPG works and is currently a creative consultant to a Stealth Startup, working on an unannounced multi-player title in the video game industry.
She is a podcast personality and currently the cohost of the 20 Minute Delay podcast with Gail Carriger.
Piper is a day job frequent flyer, a gamer, foodie, and wanderer. Usually not lost.
Want a Writing the Other class for your conference or organization? Teachers are available to give virtual or in-person classes, talks, and workshops.